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In This Issue
- President's Corner
- Bylaw Announcement
- GABA New Meeting Space
- October General Meeting
- November General Meeting
- New BITS Program
- Tumacacori Ride
- Silverbell Ride
- Trail of Mountain Spirits Wrap-Up
- GABA Swap Meet
- Ask GABA
- BICAS Calendar
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ASK GABA
Dear GABA,
I've started doing GABA El Tour Training Rides. Why do I have to sign in?
Answer: That's easy. GABA needs a record of who rides on all our supported (i.e. Tumacacori Century) and unsupported day rides. This is because, as a member of GABA, you are covered by GABA's MEDPAY insurance in the event of a crash or injury on that ride. Of course, your membership must be active to receive this benefit.
For non-GABA members, if it is your first GABA ride, you will also be covered for that ride. After that, we offer no coverage for medical expenses. The MEDPAY is secondary to your health insurance and will cover out-of-pocket expenses like deductibles, co-pays or sometimes treatment that is not covered by your health insurance up to $10,000.
As if there weren't many other good reasons to be a GABA Member, this benefit is well worth our membership fee!
Have a Question:
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Where In Tucson?
(see below for location)
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GABA Classifieds
Do you have a bike-related item you would like to buy, sell or trade? We have two ways to get the word out.
POST IT ON THE
GABA WEBSITE
To find out how to post
CLICK HERE
To post on the GABA website, you MUST be a GABA member - one more good reason to join GABA.
AND/OR
POST IT IN PACELINE
To send in a Classified
CLICK HERE
Please be sure to include all details, including your contact info so an interested party can contact you directly. We can take a (single) photo for your item.
We will run your item for 2 issues, then remove it (unless you let us know the items have been sold/found).
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SEND US NEWS, STORY IDEAS OR ARTICLES!
Do you have something interesting to share with the Tucson cycling community? A link to an event? An article that we don't know about? A topic that might be worth looking into? We publish monthly, but with more news from you we can publish every two weeks.
If you have something that you think others would like to find out about, please share it with me, Laura H paceline@bikegaba.org
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SUPPORT THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT US!
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Greetings!
BREAKING NEWS!
GABA's Monthly Meeting has a new location
Starting OCTOBER 5TH, the GABA General Monthly Meeting, and all General Monthly Meetings going forward, will be held at : The Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation
3182 N. Swan Road, Tucson, AZ
It is located on the southeast corner of Swan and Camp Lowell. It's a beautiful new meeting place for us and we are excited by the change. See the article below for additional information. Our old venue is being sold, which has prompted the switch. We hope to see you there! |
ATTENTION GABA MEMBERS
Notice: Bylaws will be reviewed and possibly revised/amended at the November 12, 2015, GABA Board Meeting, 7 p.m., Ward V Offices, 3202 E. 1st St.
GABA Members are welcome to attend.
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President's Corner
What To Do After a BICYCLE/MOTORIST Crash
Statistically, there are more bicycle crashes in October than any other month of the year in Tucson. I have been answering a lot of questions about what to do after a crash. I hope, of course, this advice will not be needed by you. Nonetheless, it is good to know.
A few years ago all we needed to do was call 911. Law enforcement officers showed up and completed a report including important information. They might have even taken photos from time to time. An ambulance would be dispatched for your medical needs, and other details were handled.
Times have changed. Some law enforcement departments no longer show up if there is a collision with no reported injuries. And if they do respond to the scene, they will not necessarily write a four-page Arizona Crash Report that includes pertinent information. That means you have to do it yourself. In fact, even if law enforcement does show up, I highly recommend you make notations yourself. You need to write down names, addresses and phone numbers yourself. It is very common for witnesses to be left off reports.
Handy checklist:
- Call 911 and report the crash.
- Medical attention.
- Driver's information. Name, phone, address, insurance company and policy number. The driver is required to give you information after a crash. Write this information down from their driver's license. Write their insurance registration information from their insurance registration card.
- Vehicle information. Hopefully you will be able to see the registration to confirm that the name and address of the owner is the same as the driver.Write down the license plate number, color, make, model and year of the vehicle. If you can get the VIN, write that down. It might be inside the driver's door, visible through the windshield, or on the registration.
- Get witness names, addresses, and phone numbers.Even if law enforcement shows up, be sure to keep your own record of witnesses.What did the witness see? The whole thing? After it was over? Were they walking? Were they driving by? Were they a passenger in the car?
- Ask the police to do a full report. They will or won't based on policy, but ask anyway. Be polite and cooperative.
- Photos. Most folks have cell phones with cameras these days. Take pictures of the bike. Photos of the car and dents. License plate. Up and down the roadway. Take a lot of pictures. Take a picture of the driver if you can. Use different angles. If you cannot move very well, ask someone else to take pictures for you.
- Later, you can order a CD recording the 911 calls. Very often more witnesses are found that way.
- If the officer does fill out a crash report, it will be ready after five business days. Wait 1 week. If not received, go to the appropriate police or sheriff station and get a copy of the full report. If the report says photos were taken, order those photos.
- Hold off giving a statement to the insurance carrier until after you have read the Arizona Crash Report and looked at the photos. It is important to know what others have said or written.
Most of the time, it is best not to give a statement to the driver's insurance company (although you will need to cooperate with your own insurance and give a statement to your own carrier).
Sounds like a lot to remember? You can print the checklist and put it in your saddlebag with a pen, or image it on your cell phone. Best wishes, be safe, keep a good lookout for vehicles, and enjoy the ride.
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GABA's New General Meeting Space
With our October General Meeting, which will be held on Monday, October 5, GABA's General Meeting will be held at a new location. We will still meet the first Monday of each month (second Monday, if first Monday is a holiday) at 7 p.m., but starting with our October 5 meeting we will be meeting at:
The Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation
3182 N. Swan Road, Tucson, AZ
It is located on the southeast corner of Swan and Camp Lowell.
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 OCTOBER General Meeting Monday, October 5, 2015 7 p.m
- Did you ever wonder why people ride recumbents?
- Why do some recumbents have 2 wheels on the back and others have 2 wheels on the front?
- Do recumbents come equipped with a seat belt?
- Can they pull off a safety turn to avoid a right-hook vehicle collision?
- Does their full suspension absorb the bumps that come with being lower to the ground? Or is it a bumpy ride?
Join us to hear answers to these questions and many more from our "All Things Recumbent" Panel, starring
Bruce Tucker, Susan Reed, Wayne Cullop, and Dan Cobbledick.
NEW LOCATION!!
The Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation
3182 N. Swan Road, Tucson, AZ
(Located on the southeast corner of Swan and Camp Lowell)
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NOVEMBER General Meeting
Monday, November 2, 2015
7 p.m.
Join Steve Wilson and Jon Kiser for stories and pictures from their epic 2,600-mile ride from Budapest to Istanbul through the Balkans of Eastern Europe.
Along the way they experienced 20 border crossings in 15 countries. From The Ukraine to Albania and Hungary to Turkey and everything in between. Lots of beautiful sights, friendly people and, of course, cold beer along the way. Come see a part of the world that Americans seldom venture to.
The challenges included 13 currencies, 9 languages, and 4 alphabets. Thank goodness for Google Translate! After 53 hotels they rolled in to Istanbul for some well-deserved rest and sightseeing. Hope you can join us!
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NEW GABA PROGRAM
BACK IN THE SADDLE (BITS)
In response to a number of requests, Back In The Saddle (BITS) is a 6-week series of rides designed for riders who have not ridden in a long time or who are concerned about riding in a group or on the roads, or about managing common bike issues during a ride, such as a flat tire.
Back In The Saddle ride leaders are hopeful that after completion of this series riders will have the confidence that they can join in many of the GABA Day Rides posted on the MeetUp calendar and will consider taking Pima County's free Traffic Skill's Class, TS 101, or its Mechanics Class. Both of those classes will give riders more in depth information on all that was touched upon in the GABA BITS rides. A copy of upcoming Pima County classes will be distributed after the final GABA BITS ride.
There is no cost to participate in any GABA Day rides or the Back In The Saddle series.
The first series will begin October 10 at 8 a.m. at Brandi Fenton Park, 3536 E. River Road, accessible by car from either East River Road or North Dodge Boulevard. It is also accessible by bike from the north side of the Rillito River path just east of North Dodge. Each ride will typically be 2 hours. The 6th and final session of the first series will be on November 14.
The second series will begin in January (date TBA) at Udall Park, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road.
Each session is designed to familiarize you with the basics of riding your bike safely on multi-use paths (The Loop); residential, secondary roads; and roads with bike lanes. The distance of the rides will progress from 4-5 miles in week 1 to 20-25 miles week 6. No rider will be left behind.
The routes will be basically flat or with some minor hills (GABA's rating of 1-2 on a 1-5 scale).
GABA ride leaders would like Back In The Saddle riders to make a commitment to the full series of 6 sessions. We understand that "life happens" or you may decide that Back In The Saddle is not a fit for you. If your schedule precludes you from joining the group on a particular session, you can attend your missed session when the next series is offered.
For more information, or to sign up for Back In The Saddle: Click Here
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TUMACACORI CENTURY
Gene Chapman Memorial Bicycle Ride
(...And a GABA El Tour de Tucson Training Ride)
Sunday, October 18, 2015
The most popular GABA bicycle ride in Southern Arizona!
Three options available from novice to very experienced cyclists:
31, 71 and 100 miles!
What makes this such a GREAT ride?
* It's October in Tucson...perfect weather for a bicycle ride.
* With El Tour de Tucson a month away, it's an excellent training ride.
* The route is a mixture of flat terrain, rolling hills, and challenging climbs, all the while being very picturesque!
* Many cyclists record their best time for riding a century on this route!
* The route is well-marked (just follow the GABA signs).
* SAG (food stops) are delicious and plentiful, served by cheerful & helpful volunteers!
* Sweep support is available along the route for tired cyclists and weary bikes.
* Bike mechanic is on hand for minor repairs and adjustments.
* Eegee's lunch is provided to all cyclists at the conclusion of the ride.
For more information or to sign up
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
FROM GABA
Riders, remember the rules of the road when you are on a GABA ride. Whether it is a day ride or a supported overnight ride, we are required to follow the same rules that apply to "drivers of vehicles." GABA is visible, the public is watching us. Every few months or so GABA receives a complaint from a motorist or pedestrian or outside observer that we were bunched up in a group, or passing other riders by going over the yellow line. Each of these are investigated. We have learned that some of the complaints were not GABA rides. We have learned that others were not violations of a roadway rule. Every once in a while, though, we have learned that the complaint is valid and that we could have done better. Let's be courteous and set the standard all others look to. Thank you. Enjoy your rides!
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 2015 Recap by James and Debra Harms
We had 59 registrations and were sad to see that many of our regulars could not make it this year. However, about 2/3 of the riders were new to this wonderful weekend and we were excited to meet numerous new riding friends!
 Ride day 1 - City of Rocks. The weather was cooler than usual starting at 68 degrees and turned warmer with each hour that ticked by, reaching the mid-70s. Later that afternoon after a great lunch at the now closed Gateway restaurant in Hurley, everyone headed for the City of Rocks and were greeted with nice temperatures. Upon reaching the Orion Group Site, they were welcomed with snacks and beverages. The cyclists set up their campsite, had a nice shower, and some took a nap while others hiked around the area or brought their bikes over for some minor maintenance repairs or patched their inner tubes. Andy Vasko was our amazing sweep driver who was there to assist with any and all mechanical needs while on the road. Donnie Forman and her Eastern Star ladies and the Masons catered the evening's dinner. Enchiladas, rice, refried beans, tortillas, and banana pudding was accompanied by lemonade and iced tea. As the sun went down the temperature was a cool 50-55 degrees and a light rain fell during the night. Jake the snake made his appearance outside the showers prior to turning in for the night. Ride day 2 - Camp Thunderbird. The riders woke to the smell of coffee being made. They were greeted with hard-boiled eggs, yogurt, dry cereal, oatmeal, cinnamon rolls, peanut butter, fruit and V8 for breakfast. This is typically a breezy and rainy day; however, it turned out to be a dry, calm, cool day until they reached Camp Thunderbird up in the pines. Today's ride was through rolling hills gaining approximately 1,000 feet in elevation. Some riders decided to do some sightseeing along the route. After setting up their tent sites under the tall green pines, they were greeted with a social hour prior to the evening's meal that included playing horseshoes and swinging on the swings as we did when we were kids. Some opted for more sightseeing at the Gila Cliff Dwellings.  Ride day 3 - Return to Silver City. We awoke from a wonderful night of sleep to Mother Nature giving us nice cool temperatures after a light rain during the night, making the temperatures drop into the 60s. We converged on the dining hall after breaking camp for a wonderful breakfast hosted by Camp Thunderbird. Then the FUN began!!! Traveling through the Gila Forest by Lake Roberts and then UP to the heavens. The Ride Leader was on the road to assist the riders if needed on this wonderful CLIMB! The riders were greeted at SAG 1 where Roni had fresh fruit, snacks and cold beverages to last the riders another 17 miles through the shady but hilly forests to SAG 2 for Lunch. Mari was there to greet them with meat and cheese sandwiches, watermelon, snacks and cold beverages. Once the tank was filled up, the riders proceeded on their 8-mile downhill run to the finish. Upon arriving back in Silver City, Earl Clayton had their luggage unloaded and waiting for them. Bidding farewell, we are hoping that we will see you again, but it is still a bittersweet parting. For our volunteers and me, we hope to see you again next year! I hope that you had a great weekend and that you will share your experience with others, so they may come and see for themselves the beauty of this ride. Many thanks to my volunteers: Roni Swanson, SAG 1 Extraordinaire, and Mari Diffley as your SAG 2 Super Woman. Andy Vasko was on the road to help those in need of a lift or mechanical assistance and Earl Clayton as your Baggage and Social Hour Host. Pictures are posted on the GABA website: CLICK HERE
 CYCLIST PRAYER May the road rise up to meet you... but be smooth and slightly downhill
May the wind always be at your back... preferably a 20-25 mph sustained tailwind
May the sun shine upon your face just enough to create a healthy glow but no skin damage May the rain fall softly upon your fields... only at night and never while we are riding
Until we meet again, it has been a pleasure.
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Join us for GABA Fall Bike Swap 2015!
On 7th Street between 4th Avenue and 6th Avenue
Event Contact:
Patrick L. Rinckey, 520-343-4962
The largest bicycle swap in the Southwest, GABA's Bike Swap in Tucson attracts over 5,000 attendees and more than 40 vendors biannually, with the Fall swap the larger of the two.
On the weekend before El Tour, bring your gear down to sell while looking through vendors' items. Vendors travel from all over Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Texas to bring you the best deals in bike gear.
New this year, GABA Members wanting to sell a few items get a premium location on a first-come, first-serve basis. Bring your GABA member card (available on our website under Member Profile) to participate.
Non-GABA Members wanting to sell may set up outside of the vendor area. This area is located on the north end of 5th Avenue near 6th Street. No vehicles may park in these spaces.
This year for the first time, individuals have the option to reserve a single 10-foot individual space. These spaces are available on the vendor grid off 7th Street closer to the action. Don't be left out if you're an individual with several items you'd like to sell or swap. Reserve the new standard space today to ensure you have a place at the Fall bike swap. No vehicles may park in these spaces.
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 BICAS CALENDAR NEWS Women and Transgender Workshop
Monday, October 5, 12, 19, 26 from 4 to 8 p.m.
Wheel Building Class
Saturday, October 10, 9 a.m.
Sunday, October 11, noon
Volunteer Orientation
Wednesday, October 28, 6-7 p.m.
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